The Adventures of Robin Hood (Puffin Classics) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Arthur Hall (Illustrator) "King Richard the First, Richard Coeur de Lion, came to the throne in 1189 - and very soon left his throne empty when he set..." (more)
Key Phrases: secret glade, good yeoman, good friar, Robin Hood, Little John, Prince John (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This is the classic story of social justice and outrageous cunning. Robin Hood is champion of the poor and oppressed by twelfth-century England against the cruel power of Prince John and the brutal Sheriff of Nottingham. He takes refuge with his Merrie Men in the vast Sherwood Forest, emerging time and again to outwit his enemies with daring and panache.

About the Author

Roger Lancelyn Green was born in 1918 and lived in Oxford and at his family home in Cheshire, which the Greens had owned for more than 900 years. He loved storytelling and was fascinated by traditional fairy tales, myths and legends from around the world. He was a professional actor, a librarian and a teacher. His retellings include Egyptian, Greek and Norse legends, plus a retelling of Robin Hood. He also wrote many books for adults, including a biography of his friend C. S. Lewis, creator of the The Chronicles of Narnia. Roger Lancelyn Green died in 1987.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (December 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140367004
• ISBN-13: 978-0140367003
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,224 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Robin Hood collection second only to one other., October 5, 2001

By	Godly Gadfly (Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Who hasn't heard of Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws in Sherwood Forest? In this book you meet them all - including the powerful Little John, courageous Will Scarlet, musical Allan a Dale, and sly Friar Tuck. Roger Lancelyn Green has researched the legends and ballads about Robin Hood, and this collection of Robin Hood tales rivals the authoritative collection by Howard Pyle which has been unequalled for more than 100 years. But Green corrects one notable omission in Pyle: the absence of Maid Marion. In addition to the ample adventures revolving around Maid Marion, all the old favorites are included - Little John and his quarter-staff toppling Robin into the water, Robin winning the golden arrow at Nottingham's archery contest, and the Sheriff being outsmarted in numerous attempts to capture Robin. But these are just the tip of the iceberg - this book is chock-full of entertaining merry adventures.

The medieval setting is portrayed beautifully, including the vast gulf between the upper and lower classes of society, the corruption and greed of the nobility, and the hypocrisy of the medieval Roman Catholic church where religion has degenerated to mere outward rituals. But the medieval setting is not presented without a social commentary - Green shows that the unbalanced social structure inevitably resulted in the oppression of the poor and weak. Robin Hood and his band are clearly Catholics, and they are motivated by a genuine love for God and for the King. It is left to Robin Hood and his men to take justice into their own hands, and fight nobly for the cause of the downtrodden. Such justice is accomplished in a questionable manner, because the notion of robbing the rich to help the poor implicitly endorses civil disobedience. But Green points out that Robin Hood is motivated by justice and not revenge, and acts only because the lawful authority of King Richard has been replaced by an unlawful usurper. The theme of seeking justice and maintaining truth and right is in itself a noble one. With Robin Hood, we find ourselves wanting justice, and being prepared to make unselfish sacrifices in order to achieve it. When justice is done, it is actually the greed and corruption of the nobility that has led to its own destruction and ruin.

But the real attractions of this gem are the enthralling exploits of Robin Hood and his band of merry men. Comparisons with the classic Howard Pyle collection are inevitable. Green's collection of tales is equally well researched and equally comprehensive. Although the absence of Pyle's antiquated language is an improvement, Green's collection is still in the end inferior to Pyle's. Pyle's Sherwood Forest is a rather glamorous utopian world where feasting and song abound, where it is never winter, and where the ale rarely runs dry. Robin Hood clearly represents a form of hedonism, and in his company there is never a lack of action, adventure, or for that matter - ale. Green's Sherwood Forest is ironically less "green" than Pyle's, and lacks the hedonistic feasting and song, and lacks the sense of atmosphere that Pyle so skilfully evoked. Green's action and atmosphere fails to match the excitement and merriment that Robin Hood deserves, and he seems to have taken the "merry" out of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. In this case the grass really was "Greener" on the Pyle side of the fence.

But that is not to detract from Green's superb effort. If you can't get Howard Pyle's "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood" or can't endure his antiquated language, then don't look further than this collection by Green. There is no end to the accomplishments of muscles and mind, as Robin and his merry band outwit all comers by sheer physical skill in archery, wrestling, swordmanship, and quarter-staff combat, or by outsmarting them with deceit and disguise. To our delight, Robin's brawn and brains always come out on top at the end. Along with the tales of King Arthur, the tales of Robin Hood are the most exciting tales that British history has produced. Green's collection of Robin Hood's merry adventures is still constantly entertaining and exciting - one that you'll want to own and read over and over!

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Complete Retelling of the Robin Hood Tales, April 23, 2001

By	oddsfish (Winters, TX) - See all my reviews

The Adventures of Robin Hood by Roger Lancelyn Green is a brilliant retelling of the Robin Hood tales. All of the stories are here. Robin's fight with Little John is related, as is the archery contest, Robin's love affair with Marion, and the wedding of Allan-a-Dale. All of the characters like Friar Tuck, Will Scarlet, Little John, Maid Marion, and (guess what!) Robin Hood make their appearances. Overall, the tales are well told, and the book is very complete. My favorite portion of this edition is the prologue in which the author writes from where the stories are derived. There, I was turned to Thomas Love Peacock's brilliant, if forgotten, tales of Robin Hood entitled Maid Marian. This edition will help to keep the adventures of Robin Hood in the minds of children for another generation.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stealing from the best..., June 22, 2002

By	Allen W. Wright "Webmaster, 'rogue scholar" (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's in keeping with the book's hero that Roger Lancelyn Green is a bit of a thief. He plunders ballads, plays, novels and poems for this Robin Hood novel.

Thankfully, he steals from the best sources.

This kid's book is a pleasant, briskly-written version of the legend incorporating details from an astonishing variety of sources.

I'm also glad to see Marian get a large role in this book. She doesn't appear in the Howard Pyle novel at all.

You could do a lot worse than let this book be someone's first introduction to the legend of Robin Hood.